Robinhood vs. E*TRADE: 2025 Comparison
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley and Robinhood both offer free trading of stocks and ETFs. But with robust platforms and a larger investment selection, E*TRADE may appeal to more investors.
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It’s hard to compare E*TRADE and Robinhood: Both brokers allow investors to trade stocks and ETFs for free. But there's more to differentiate them: Generally speaking, E*TRADE will appeal to investors who want access to a wider range of investments — including index and mutual funds — as well as a high-powered trading platform, deep educational content and 24/7 customer support. Robinhood typically targets investors who prioritize low costs above all else and want an easy-to-use mobile platform.
Here's a look at how E*TRADE and Robinhood stack up against each other:
E*TRADE is best for:
Frequent traders.
Research and data.
Retirement planning assistance and educational resources.
E*TRADE at a glance
Account minimum | $0 |
Stock trading costs | $0 |
Options trades | $0.65 per contract (volume discount available) |
Account fees (annual, transfer, closing, inactivity) | Annual fee: $0 Inactivity fee: $0 Outgoing transfer fee (partial or full): $75 |
Interest rate on uninvested cash | 0.01% to 0.15% |
Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds | Over 6,000 |
Tradable securities | Stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, options, bonds, futures |
Trading platform | Two: E*TRADE and Power E*TRADE |
Mobile app | Available for iOS and Android |
Research and data | Nine research providers, including Moodys, Refinitiv, Morningstar, MarketEdge and Smart Consensus |
Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website) | 24/7 phone support; live chat Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern. |
Robinhood is best for:
Mobile-first investors.
IRA investors.
Margin traders.
Robinhood at a glance
Account minimum | $0 for brokerage accounts, Robinhood Gold accounts and IRAs. |
Stock trading costs | $0. |
Options trades | $0. |
Account fees (annual, transfer, closing, inactivity) | No annual or inactivity fees. $100 ACAT outgoing transfer fee. Robinhood Gold costs $5 a month. Matching funds in IRAs may be taken back if money is withdrawn in less than five years. Instant withdrawals cost a minimum of $2 and a maximum of 1.75% of the amount withdrawn. |
Interest rate on uninvested cash | 0.01% for free accounts, 4% for Gold accounts (as of Jan. 8, 2025). |
Tradable securities | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Cryptocurrency, American Depositary Receipts for over 650 global companies, Fractional shares. Bonds only available in the form of bond ETFs. |
Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds | Not available. |
Trading platform | Robinhood's mobile and web platforms are known for their smooth sign-up, funding and trading processes. The broker now also offers a desktop platform, Robinhood Legend. |
Mobile app | Mobile trading platform includes customizable alerts, news feed, advanced charting and ability to listen live to earnings calls for some companies. |
Research and data | Access to professional research from Morningstar and Level II market data from the Nasdaq Stock Exchange (with Gold subscription). |
Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website) | 24/7 chat support. Phone support available from 7:00 a.m. ET to 9:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday. |
» Compare more options: View our picks for the best stock apps
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